#FiveFaves {ed. 1}

Happy Tuesday, friends! I’m linking up today for the first time with Five Favorites over at Call Her Happy. Lots of fun over there — check it out!

Five Favorite Mama Saints

– 1 –

St. Anne

I’ve just recently begun a devotion to beautiful St. Anne. It never occurred to me until now how especially relatable she is to stay-at-home moms. She spent her life quietly raising Our Lady, educating her at home {as tradition has it} and working to care for her house and family. As far as we know, she didn’t have any fame or following — probably most of what she did was unknown to anyone but God and her husband — but she was so faithful in her hidden life {much like her daughter would be at Nazareth}. I need more of her humble spirit.

PS: I can’t tell you how much I love this painting. Look at the tender expressions of Our Lady and St. Anne — Mary’s face is enraptured with her Child, and Anne is looking so lovingly at her own daughter. Beautiful.

– 2 –

St. Perpetua

This. Woman. Is. Awesome. If you don’t know her story, please do yourself a great favor, and go read it! Let me just summarize it so you get a taste of her total amazingness:

Perpetua {BTW, I totally love her name, don’t you?} was a young, beautiful, educated noblewoman, who converted to Christianity in the year 203, during one of the many great persecutions in the Roman empire. She was found out, then thrown into prison to await her fate among wild beasts in the arena. At the time of her imprisonment, she was 22 years old, married, and mother to a nursing infant son, who was with her for a time in prison.

She was known as a strong leader and loving encourager among the other Christian prisoners, and was also a fearless prayer warrior. Perpetua “walked with shining steps” to her martyrdom, and her story of heroic courage {verified by first-hand witnesses} was so beloved by the early Church that it was read during liturgies.

Perpetua is so inspiring. I don’t have to face wild beasts, but may God give me even a portion of her strength to get up and mother every day!

– 3 –

St. Monica

What mother hasn’t poured her heart out on her knees before God, interceding for a child in need? And what mother isn’t tempted at times to give up her prayers when she doesn’t see the answers that she wants? Sometimes it’s hard to persevere for our children.

St. Monica is a witness to selfless, heroic motherhood because she remained faithful in her love and prayers for her son, Augustine, even when his case seemed hopeless. And look at the fruits of her efforts. Who knows — maybe the stubborn, difficult child that we pray for every day will grow up to become a passionate, giant of a Saint! Never give up hope, never give up prayer. All things are possible with God.

– 4 –

Blessed Zélie Martin

If you read my website, you know I love Blessed Zélie. From an earlier post of mine:

She knows what it’s like to build a domestic church amid the agony and the ecstasy of the daily grind. She was the mother of nine — including St. Therese, the Little Flower! — a talented homemaker, and a savvy business woman. She loved her husband fiercely, and Our Lord even more. She suffered the loss of four children, and endured an excruciating battle with breast cancer.

Her upcoming canonization, along with her husband, Louis, is proof that heroic virtue in the vocation of marriage is possible. And not only that; it’s desirable. Zélie makes holiness look good.

We can learn from Blessed Zélie what it means to live out heroic virtue in the joys and trials of “ordinary” life. With God, ordinary can be extraordinary.

– 5 –

St. Gianna Molla

Most of us know St. Gianna’s story, and her self-sacrifice for her unborn child. She has so much to teach us. From a short bio at saintgianna.org:

“Gianna Beretta Molla made a heroic choice, but it was something her family members and friends testified she prepared for every day of her life. Her heroic virtue, genuine holiness of life, selflessness, and quiet joy remind all of us that God entrusts us with a personal vocation. Each and every day presents us with choices that have the power to prepare us to take heroic action whenever it will be called for. We can do that, however, only if we surrender ourselves and what we desire to God and His will for us.”

I’d love to know — who are some of your favorite mama saints?

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Comments

I was so surprised (and tickled) to see you included St. Perpetua. Perpetua is my maiden name (and the middle name of one of my daughters). One of my favorite saints. There’s a great kids’ DVD about her: http://amzn.to/1Kk2668

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Well hello there, friend!

I'm so glad you're here! I’m Lydia -- happy wife, busy mama of five littles, and three-time overcomer of PPD + PPA. I believe fervently that God has called each one of us not just to live, but to flourish! I want this humble space to be a virtual and loving embrace - you are not alone! Read More…